Day: February 5, 2026

Inspiring Volunteer Awards

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN

We are delighted to announce that we have now opened the nominations for this year’s Inspiring Volunteer Awards 2026

These awards celebrate the amazing people and groups who volunteer in Edinburgh. 

Do you know someone or a team who deserves an award? You can nominate them! We want to celebrate as many volunteers as possible. 
 

Every volunteer who is nominated gets a certificate. Some lucky nominees will be invited to collect theirs at a special ceremony with Edinburgh’s Lord Provost Robert Aldridge, and others will get theirs by post. 
 

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday 2 June during Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June) at Edinburgh City Chambers. 
 

Who can be nominated? 

  • Volunteers must live or volunteer in Edinburgh 
  • They must be at least 11 years old 
  • They must have volunteered for at least six months 
  • Previous winners cannot be nominated again 

You can nominate individuals, teams, or for special awards. Fill in the online form here: voled.in/nominations. 
 

Special Recognition Awards 

  • Arts, Culture & Heritage Volunteer – helps with arts, museums, theatre, or heritage projects 
  • Charity Shop Volunteer – works in charity shops with customers, tills, or donations 
  • Digital Volunteer – helps with social media, websites, IT, or marketing 
  • Environment/Conservation Volunteer – works outdoors, gardens, or teaches about nature 
  • Fundraising Volunteer – helps raise money for a charity or organisation 
  • Health & Social Care Volunteer – supports people in the community to improve health and wellbeing 
  • Long-Standing Contribution Award – someone who has volunteered 10 years or more 
  • Sports Volunteer – supports sports and active lifestyles in the community 
  • Team of the Year – a group of volunteers who have worked together to make a big difference 
  • Trustee Volunteer – someone who helps lead a charity or community group 
  • Young Volunteer – for volunteers aged 11–25 showing great dedication 

Lord Provost Awards 

  • Paul Bennett Volunteer Manager Award – for volunteer managers who go above and beyond to support volunteers 
  • Ian McInnes Award for Inclusion and Diversity – for individuals or organisations that champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in volunteering 
  • Inspiring Volunteer of the Year 
    All individual nominations are considered for this top award. Judges look at commitment, impact, and dedication. The winner will be chosen by the Lord Provost. Past winners are added to the Honour Board at City Chambers. 

Thank you for helping us celebrate the incredible volunteers in Edinburgh! 

For more information, contact Jason McCann at Volunteer Edinburgh: 

Phone: 0131 561 8310 

Email: events@volunteeredinburgh.org.uk 

Good Luck!

Healthy results for City Region Deal at halfway point

Almost 30,000 jobs have been created or supported since 2018 thanks to the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal, according to a new report.

The Deal, which launched in 2018, is at the halfway point in its 15-year delivery timeline and has already contributed £3.6 billion in economic growth.

The £1.3 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal is supported with £300 million each from the Scottish and UK governments.

Over 5000 businesses have engaged directly with the Deal through partnerships or collaborations on training and skills development, innovation, and jobs, and more than £1 billion in additional funding has been secured for Deal-related projects.

From Fife to the Scottish Borders, the Deal is delivering investment across housing, transport, innovation, culture, and skills and employment.

Highlights include seven new innovation hubs to increase links between university research and industry, housing developments that have so far delivered almost 8,500 new homes, and two industrial innovation zones.

Councillor Jane Meagher, Chair, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal Joint Committee, said: “The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal is delivering real results.

“Now worth £1.7 billion, it generates the greatest additional investment of any Scottish city region or growth deal. The programme is driving economic growth, improving the services and functions the city relies on and creating sustainable communities, while ensuring benefits reach all of the region.

“To date, it has created over 29,000 jobs and built more than 8,000 homes and supported over £3.6 billion in Gross Value Added. The jobs created and skills improvements ensure that local people can access high-quality, better-paid work and benefit from the prosperity created by the City Region Deal.”

Garry Clark, Chair of the Deal’s Regional Enterprise Council, said: “Businesses across Edinburgh and South East Scotland will rightly judge the City Region Deal by the difference they can see on the ground. The Deal set ambitious targets from the outset, and it has consistently delivered measurable results.

“In Fife, for example, small firms are benefiting from new industrial units that fill a vital gap in the local property market, and East Lothian’s new Innovation Hub is already home to a diverse group of businesses.

“Across the region, employers now have access to a stronger talent pipeline thanks to the award winning Integrated Regional Employability and Skills programme. The Deal is helping strengthen partnerships between industry, the third sector, and academia—collaboration that would be far harder to achieve in isolation.

“It has also helped build a resilient local supply chain, ensuring that local businesses and local skills have been central to the delivery of each project.

“Together, these achievements show an impressive track record and signal even greater transformation ahead as the Deal continues to support the regional economy and the people who drive it.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Working together with local partners we have provided £300 million towards this Deal to drive economic opportunities and help communities across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders to thrive.

“From new jobs and skills training to investment in innovation and thousands of new homes this funding is delivering tangible benefits that people across the region can see and feel in their daily lives.

“Whether it’s a new concert hall for Edinburgh, delivering a national centre for robotics and AI at Herit-Watt University or supporting Scotland’s largest brownfield regeneration project at Granton Waterfront, these investments will shape this region for generations to come.”

UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: “We are backing Edinburgh and South East Scotland with £300 million UK Government funding.

“It’s great news that half has already been spent on transformational projects in areas such as innovation, skills and employment, helping to create or support tens of thousands of jobs and contributing billions of pounds of economic growth.

“We look forward to working with partners over the rest of the deal to maximise the benefits from the remaining funding to deliver economic and community renewal across Scotland.”

Royal Bank of Scotland sets £10 billion funding ambition for social housing

  • The Royal Bank of Scotland has announced, through its parent NatWest Group, that it has provided more than £25 billion* in commercial loans and capital market support to the UK social housing sector between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2025.  
  • Bank has delivered on its social housing lending ambition of £7.5 billion from 2024 to 2026 a year early, which includes lending to Kingdom Housing Association in Fife last year. 

The Royal Bank of Scotland has today announced an updated package of £10 billion of funding to the UK social housing sector before the end of 2028, which when deployed will bring the total funding to social housing in the UK to over £35 billion* since 2018.  

Through this new ambition, the bank is aiming to support the delivery and maintenance of social housing in the UK, which is vital to the people and families who rely on affordable housing, as well as the wider economy. The Royal Bank of Scotland has worked with not-for-profit housing associations across Scotland to support their growth and development plans building homes and communities for many years. 

The bank also confirmed it has now provided more than £25 billion* of funding into the social housing sector since 2018, helping to create and sustain affordable homes nationwide.

The Royal Bank of Scotland aims to support the delivery and upkeep of social housing across the UK, helping housing associations build new homes, upgrade existing properties, and improve living conditions. Some of this lending can help fund energy efficiency and environmental improvements, including retrofit projects. Other funding can help the housing associations sector to deliver a pipeline of new homes and improve living conditions in existing properties. 

Paul Thwaite, CEO NatWest Group comments: “We are incredibly proud to announce the early achievement of our £7.5 billion UK social housing lending ambition.

“Delivering this milestone a full year ahead of scheduled demonstrates our commitment to making a real difference in people’s lives by investing in the homes and communities that need it most, and shows the demand in the market.  

“Reaching this lending ambition early has enabled us to set a new target of £10 billion to year-end 2028, so we can continue to provide social housing lending and play our part in supporting the development and availability of affordable and social rent homes across the UK.”  

The announcement forms part of the bank’s new five point Growing Together plan, setting out how the bank will help build the conditions for UK wide growth: backing powerful regions, championing mid-market companies, strengthening the country’s infrastructure and housing foundations, boosting financial confidence amongst families and young people, and supporting the innovators shaping the future economy.

Drawing on its regional footprint, expertise and convening power, the bank aims to bring businesses, communities, and policymakers together to tackle structural barriers, unlock productivity and spread opportunity across the UK.

In addition to these commitments, last year the Royal Bank of Scotland announced several other initiatives and partnerships that have complemented and contributed to our social housing lending ambition being achieved. These include a financial guarantee of up to £400 million from the National Wealth Fund to cover a series of new loans from Royal Bank of Scotland to registered providers of social housing stock in the UK.  

The bank also launched a new social rent loan product to support housing associations, which are already Royal Bank of Scotland customers, to support the construction of social rent houses across the UK. In December 2025, this fund was doubled to £1 billion in response to strong demand and to help continue the delivery of homes for social rent across the country. 

These initiatives complement Royal Bank of Scotland’s ongoing dedication to supporting communities and helping to address the housing crisis. 

In December, the Royal Bank of Scotland announced £20 million in additional lending to Kingdom Housing Association (KHA) headquartered in Fife.

KHA are one of Scotland’s largest registered social landlords and manage over 7,000 homes, providing a wide range of housing, care and support services. The funding will help deliver 170 new energy efficient homes in Fife and Perth and Kinross and builds on existing lending to KHA from the bank which now totals £61 million.

Edinburgh short-term let control area has delivered NO measurable housing benefit, new FOI reveals

ASSC warns other local authorities in Scotland considering comparable schemes

A Freedom of Information response has confirmed that the City of Edinburgh Council holds NO EVIDENCE that its Short-Term Let Planning Control Area has delivered any measurable improvement in housing supply, affordability or market outcomes since it was introduced in 2022.

The findings, released today by the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC), raises serious questions for other local authorities, including Highland and Fife Councils, that are actively considering introducing similar controls.

In response to the FOI request, Edinburgh Council confirmed it does not hold any quantitative data, impact assessments or evaluations showing improvements in overall housing availability, affordable housing supply, property sale prices or private rental costs since the Planning Control Area (PCA) was implemented.

It also confirmed that no internal or external review has been carried out to assess whether the policy has worked.  

When asked about empty homes and second homes, the Council relied solely on broad Scottish Government statistics published at whole local authority level, rather than providing any analysis specific to the PCA itself.

At the same time, independent market data shows that housing costs have continued to rise. Average property prices across Edinburgh and the wider region increased by more than 4% in 2025, while private rents in the Lothians remain among the highest in Scotland and continue to climb year on year.

The ASSC has described the findings as a clear example of regulation introduced without an evidence base and maintained without proof of success.

In response, it reiterated its call for an independent post-implementation review of the Edinburgh STL PCA and for housing policy to focus on proven solutions, including new build delivery and targeted empty homes initiatives.

The ASSC is also appealing for an immediate pause on the further expansion of PCAs until there is clear, localised and transparent evidence that they actually work. The leading trade body warned that other councils should pause and reflect before following Edinburgh’s lead.

Fiona Campbell MBE, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers, said: “This FOI response confirms something deeply troubling. A major planning intervention has been introduced, enforced and defended without any evidence that it actually delivers housing benefit. That is not how good policy should be made.

“The facts completely undermine the narrative surrounding this policy. Since the STL Planning Control Area was introduced in Edinburgh, house prices and rents have continued to rise with no sign of improved affordability or increased supply. All that’s happened in nearly three and a half years of operation is increased costs and disruption to small businesses.

“For other councils like Highland and Fife mulling similar schemes, the risks are significant. These controls can damage local tourism economies, undermine small family-run businesses and reduce visitor spend, without delivering the housing benefits that are often promised. Edinburgh’s experience should be act as a cautionary tale, not a template.

“If a policy cannot demonstrate that it has achieved its stated objectives, the answer is not to double down but to reassess. Scotland needs housing solutions that genuinely increase supply and affordability, not ill-conceived ideological measures driven by assumption which only serve to raise false hopes within local communities.”

 Edinburgh bar slashes pint price by 25% following landmark legislative move

The Green Room West End uses the Scottish Pubs Code to break free from purchasing contracts and now able to stock a wider range of beers

The Green Room West End, one of Edinburgh’s most beloved bars, has become one of the first bars in Scotland to leverage the newly implemented Scottish Pubs Code.

The new legislation, which gives pub owners the chance to ask to just pay a rent without being tied to supply stock from the pub-owning business, means The Green Room West End can now stock a wider range of beers.

Furthermore, it means the iconic bar is able to slash the price of a pint of lager from £6.90 to just £5.20, a saving of 25% for local patrons.

The Scottish Pubs Code, which recently came into force, is intended to create a fairer operating environment between tenants and landlords, reduce costly disputes and help safeguard the future of Scotland’s tied tenanted pubs and bars.

Anna Lagerqvist Christopherson, co-owner of The Green Room, commented: “The Scottish Pubs Code is a fantastic initiative, but it is currently a hidden gem that many struggling pub and bar owners across Scotland don’t know about.

“Breaking free from the tie of stock we have to supply has been transformative for us. It also allows us to offer fair, competitive prices to our customers while being able to stock a wider selection of drinks.

“Scotland would have a significantly more vibrant pub and bar culture if knowledge of this law were more widespread. We are seeing venues close every week, if more owners knew they had the right to break these restrictive ties, we would see more businesses surviving, more employees kept in jobs, and more taxes paid into the local economy. This isn’t just about cheaper beer, it’s about the survival of the pub.”

To celebrate the milestone, The Green Room West End will host a ‘Freedom Party’ on Wednesday, 11th February, starting at 4:00 PM.

The event is open to the public and will showcase the bar’s expanded range of beers and its new, lower pricing structure with live music from Edinburgh based musician Haftor Medbøe.

The Green Room West End has shown that the new legislation can provide a vital lifeline for tenants who have felt squeezed by the tied model.

The Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) has launched a new portal designed to help pub tenants navigate the Guest Beer Agreement facet of the code. Tenants and lessees can find the portal at guestbeer.co.uk

The Green Room West End team is ready to share their tips with other publicans, email info@thegreenroomedinburgh.co.uk 

or visit 

https://www.thegreenroomedinburgh.co.uk/about-3. 

Facts about the Scottish Tied Pub Code can also be found using the following links: MRO Guidance and Know your rights.

Music icons take centre stage on the big screen at Vue Edinburgh

From legendary rock bands to modern global sensations, music fans are invited to experience an electrifying line-up of artists on the big screen at Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre this February. 

Kicking things off today (5 February) is the latest screening from the Silents Synced series, which pairs classic silent movies with epic rock music to bring audiences a unique big screen experience. 

In R.E.M. x Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr., albums like Monster and New Adventures in Hi-Fi merge with iconic physical comedy, transporting viewers into Keaton’s dreamlike journey as a cinema projectionist-turned-detective who is framed for stealing his girlfriend’s father’s pocket watch. 

Also arriving in February is the explosive live show, Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience. Arriving Friday 6 February, this epic concert film captures sold-out performances and behind-the-scenes moments from global K-Pop phenomenon Stray Kids, including intimate interviews with the group.  

From 21 February, Australian genre-bending trio Chase Atlantic brings their Lost in Heaven era to the big screen with Chase Atlantic: Lost in Heaven.

The immersive concert film captures the band’s electrifying final night at London’s iconic O2 Arena. With breathtaking set moments and sweeping crowd-pulsing anthems, fans can relive the intensity and atmosphere of one of Chase Atlantic’s biggest shows yet on the big screen.  

Rounding out the programme is acclaimed 2022 Elvis biopic, Baz Lurhman’s EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert is heading to screens from 27 February. 

Blending electrifying restored concert footage from Elvis’s legendary 1970s Las Vegas residency with rare, never-before-seen clips and rediscovered audio of Presley recounting his own story, the immersive concert documentary gives fans the unique chance to relive the King of Rock’s charisma and musical mastery. 

General Manager at Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre, Robert Smith said: “Music has an incredible power to bring people together, and these screenings give fans the chance to experience their favourite artists in a completely immersive way.

“Whether it’s the scale of a live performance, the intimacy of an artist’s story, or the shared atmosphere of watching with fellow fans, the big screen elevates music into something truly special. We’re excited to be showcasing such a diverse and iconic line-up at Vue.” 

To find out more or book tickets, visit www.myvue.com/tinc  

Full listings

  • R.E.M. x Buster Keaton’s Sherlock Jr – From 5 February 
  • Stray Kids: The dominATE Experience – From 6 February 
  • Chase Atlantic: Lost in Heaven – From 21 February 
  • EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert – From 27 February 

SCVO: New research finds funding delays emerge as major challenge for Scottish charities

Organisations call for reliable, multi-year funding to avoid increased annual pressures

Charities in Scotland are increasingly struggling with funding delays, with organisations facing cash‑flow pressures, postponed or cancelled services, and depleted reserves.  

The latest findings from the Scottish third sector tracker reveals a sector that continues to show resilience and adaptability, but one that is increasingly stretched across multiple fronts. 

The Scottish Council for Organisations (SCVO) have now said calls for multi-year funding for the sector in line with inflation is absolutely essential.  

The research, carried out for SCVO and partners, found over a quarter (28%) of organisations now cite delays or reductions in funding as a top challenge. 

As a result, charities say these hold-ups in funding force organisations to draw on reserves as well as creating immediate cash‑flow pressures and forcing services to be postponed or cancelled.  

The tracker found 58% of organisations hold less than six months’ reserves – up five per cent from Spring 2025 – and 57% say their current use of reserves is unsustainable, a sharp increase from 40% in Autumn 2024 

Delays create immediate cash‑flow pressures (for around 60% to 65% of those organisations), force organisations to draw on reserves (45% to 50%), and lead to postponed or cancelled services (35% to 40%). (1)  

Critically, funding delays also have a profound impact on staff morale, wellbeing, and retention.  

Uncertainty around contract renewals, the risk of redundancy, and the inability to plan long‑term contribute to anxiety, frustration, and the loss of experienced staff are all exacerbating existing problems.  

Overall, the findings show a sector committed to delivering for communities but increasingly constrained by financial instability, workforce shortages, and systemic uncertainty.  

Steve Grozier, Research Officer at SCVO, said: “This latest wave of Scottish third sector tracker reveals a sector that continues to show resilience and adaptability, but one that is increasingly stretched across multiple fronts.

“Service delivery remains broadly stable, yet over half of organisations report that limitations in resources, skills, or capacity are hindering their ability to meet demand.

“Financial pressures have intensified. Staff recruitment and retention remain difficult for many organisations. Volunteer recruitment and retention challenges remain acute. Funding delays have now also emerged as a major challenge. The work being done by organisations across the sector in the midst of these issues is commendable.” 

Responding to the tracker survey, organisations consistently emphasise that secure, multi‑year, inflation‑linked funding — particularly for core costs and staff salaries — is the single most important factor that would enable them to do more.  

Without structural changes to public sector funding models, investment in workforce capacity, and improved partnership working, organisations risk being unable to meet rising demand or sustain essential services. 

The calls come ahead of a hustings of candidates for the 2026 Scottish Parliamentary elections at SCVO’s flagship event, The Gathering, on Tuesday, 10 February.  

SCVO have published their manifesto, Scotland’s Essential Sector, outlining the need for the next Scottish Government to deliver Fair Funding, with the need to reform the public sector funding landscape for voluntary organisations more pressing than ever. 

Anna Fowlie, SCVO Chief Executive, added: “Scotland’s charities, community organisations and social enterprises are a fundamental cornerstone of our society and economy.

“This research shows a growing fragility which is detrimental to us all. It’s time to give these organisations, and the people they serve, the respect and stability that they need.  

“The next Scottish Government needs to implement Fair Funding as a matter of urgency.” 

Pride in Place: 40 neighbourhoods join transformational programme

Thousands more people handed the power to decide how millions are spent in their area as Pride in Place programme expands

Thousands more people in England will be given the power to transform their communities as the government expands its pledge to restore pride in their local neighbourhood.

Local people in 40 new areas will be able to decide where up to £20 million is invested in their neighbourhood – whether that’s breathing new life into high streets, saving much-loved community spaces, or bringing people together through local events and activities. 

The new package, worth up to £800 million, will build on the success of the £5 billion Pride in Place programme that has so far helped hundreds of neighbourhoods take control of their futures and bring real change to their communities. 

In Rawtenstall, students have been asked to imagine their ideal town. In Hastings, board members have been out talking to people at park runs, festivals and supermarkets to hear what matters most to them.  

The results are already visible. In Ramsgate, £500,000 secured the freehold of the town’s last remaining youth centre – saving it for generations to come.

In Elgin, Scotland, £1 million has been set aside to build a brand-new regional athletics hub, bringing sports clubs from across the northeast together under one roof. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “It is the same story in towns across the country. Youth clubs that have been abandoned, shops boarded up and high streets decimated.

“We must reverse the devastating decline in our communities and give power, agency and control to the very people who want to improve their community – those who have skin in the game.

“Through the Pride in Place Programme, communities – backed by the state and fired up by pride – will join the fight for national renewal and a Britain built for all.”

 Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: “Pride in Place is about giving power to local people who know best what needs to change in their area.

“The ambitious plans we’re seeing take shape in communities across the country is proof that when you give local people the tools to do the job – things get better.”

More than just funding, the Pride in Place Programme represents a shift in power into the hands of local people who know their communities best. This builds on the rich tapestry across the country of community leaders, volunteers and grassroots organisations already working hard to support their communities and making them a better place to live for everyone. 

Neighbourhood Boards, who oversee the funding allocated to their communities and are made up of local residents, are now up and running, listening to their communities and deciding where the money will go.

Crucially, Pride in Place is about establishing long-term change, and creating a legacy of community-centred action, delivery and empowerment which will last far beyond the decade long programme.   

Today’s announcement will mean a total of around 380 areas will get funding, with the benefits rippling far beyond individual neighbourhoods, with thriving and more cohesive communities helping to build a stronger, more prosperous country for everyone.

Lectures and exhibitions at Corstorphine Library this month

For all of February, we are hosting an exhibition from the Edinburgh, Lothians and Borders Police Historical Society about Edinburgh & Leith during World War II.

To tie in with this, we have a lecture on Monday 9th February at 6:30pm delivered by Tom Wood: The Bombing of Edinburgh & Leith – 1939-1942. There is no need to book ahead and it is free to attend.

We are hosting a second lecture on 23rd February on The Memorial Roll about Edinburgh Police and the uncommemorated lives lost during World War II – more details to follow.

The author, Gerard McEwan, has generously donated a copy of this book which is part of our Local History collection. Access this collection in the library and other resources online with your library card!

Scottish Budget: Finance Committee calls for government fiscal action

Holyrood’s Finance and Public Administration Committee has called for early fiscal action from the Scottish Government, and the next administration following May’s election.

In its budget report published yesterday, the committee wants an urgent review of social security spending and reform of local government taxation.

The committee has also made immediate recommendations to address pressure on local government finance and improve budget transparency – including clarity on baseline figures and ‘new’ money.

Finance and Public Administration Committee convener Kenneth Gibson said: “This is our final budget report ahead of the Scottish election.

“Some recommendations are directed towards the government for immediate action others will be for the next administration to take forward after May.

“Frustratingly, some cross-party concerns set out in this report have been raised before with the government during this five-year session of Parliament – including issues of financial transparency, which have only been partly addressed.”

FPAS062026R3Download